Medical Reference
Related to Ear Infection

Ear pain in children may be a sign of an infection in the space behind the eardrum (middle ear). Ear infections (otitis media) most commonly occur when cold symptoms, such as a runny or stuffy nose and a cough, have been present for a few days.

Ear pain may be the first symptom of an ear infection,especially if you have moderate to severe ear pain during or shortly after you have a cold. Other symptoms of an ear infection may include: Swelling,heat,or tenderness around or behind the ear. Redness of the ear,ear canal,or skin around or behind the ear. Drainage from the ear that does not look like earwax. Itching of the ear or ...

Some doctors may recommend the use of daily antibiotics for prevention (prophylaxis) of ear infection if your child has many recurrent ear infections. Talk to your doctor about this. Antibiotics can reduce by 1 the number of infections that would have occurred without antibiotics. If your child has at least 3 ear infections in a 6-month period or has 4 ear infections in 1 year,your doctor may ...

Middle ear infections are usually diagnosed using a health history, a physical exam, and an ear exam. With a middle ear infection, the eardrum, when seen through a pneumatic otoscope, is red or yellow and bulging. In the case of fluid buildup without infe

For ear infections, call your health professional immediately if your child has a severe injury to the ear, sudden hearing loss, severe pain, drainage from the ear, dizziness, or your child seems to be very sick with symptoms such as a high fever and stif

Health Tools help you make wise health decisions or take action to improve your health. Decision Points focus on key medical care decisions that are important to many health problems. Ear infection: Should I give my child antibiotics? Ear problems: Should my child be treated for fluid buildup in the middle ear? ...

If a child with an ear infection has a bad earache, a doctor may perform tympanocentesis. A needle goes through the eardrum to remove fluid from behind the eardrum. It helps ease pain. The fluid is sometimes sent to a lab for testing.